ProMedica-St. Luke's merger hits roadblock

An administrative law judge has ruled in favor of the Federal Trade Commission, agreeing that St. Luke's Hospital's partnership last year with ProMedica is anti-competitive. The judge's decision, however, will be appealed to the commission, ProMedica said in a statement. St. Luke's, it said, will remain part of ProMedica through the appeals process. ProMedica said in its statement that the judge's decision was disappointing but not surprising. If the commission does not side with ProMedica in the next step, the company can take its appeal to the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati.